The Eldorado National Forest has began an environmental analysis that will determine whether portions of 42 travel routes that were closed by court order will be re-opened to public wheeled motor vehicle use. The Forest Supervisor’s decision is expected in July 2013.

The portions of the forty-two routes that are affected have been closed to public motorized use by court order since July 2012. This analysis will be limited to addressing the 42 routes in the judge’s order as they pertain to meadows and Standard and Guideline 100 of the ENF LRMP, as amended by the SNFPA.

As a first step in preparing the Travel Management Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (TM SEIS), the Forest Service has prepared a Proposed Action, which serves as a point from which to begin a dialog with the public about the routes. The proposed action, maps and other SEIS information are posted on the Eldorado National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=STELPRDB5362046.

Three public open houses are scheduled for people to meet with the Forest Supervisor and other Forest Service employees. The drop-in opportunities will be hosted on October 22 from 4-7 p.m. at Turtle Rock Community Center in Markleeville, on October 25 from 3-8 p.m. at the Placerville Inn in Placerville and on October 29 from 3- 8 p.m. at the Civic Center in Jackson.

If you have issues (points of dispute, debate or disagreement regarding potential effects of the Proposed Action) or suggestions on how issues might be resolved, please send these in writing to “Kathryn D. Hardy, Forest Supervisor; Eldorado National Forest Supervisor’s Office; 100 Forni Road; Placerville, CA 15667; attn.: Travel Management SEIS” on or before November 7, 2012. Comments on the proposed action may also be sent electronically to comments-pacificsouthwest-eldorado@fs.fed.us.

If you have any questions about this proposal, you may contact Diana Erickson at (530) 622-5061.